Three drown in boating accident

Three family members drowned and three others survived by clinging to their capsized boat for about 12 hours on Southeast Texas' Sabine Lake, authorities said.

The three died of drowning, with hypothermia as a contributing cause, Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett said. Authorities identified the three who died as: Karolyn Williams, 55, and her sons-in-law _ Christopher Ross, 25, and Cedric Blount, 28,

Williams, her husband, two daughters and their husbands set out from a boat ramp at about 6 p.m. Saturday to go fishing.

A wave hit the boat about two hours later and it began to take on water. Then a second wave capsized the 16-foot aluminum craft, dumping the family into the lake, Port Arthur police said.

By clinging to the sides of the boat, the father and his daughters survived the night. They were rescued after fishermen alerted the police to the accident at about 7 a.m. Sunday.